Term revenue effect Definition: The goal of imposing taxes to generate revenue used to finance the operation of government, most notably to finance the provision of public goods. This is one of two reasons, and the primary reason, that governments impose taxes. The other reason is the allocation effect. Governments work the revenue effect because they need access to income and resources to build highways, defend the nation, educate the population, and maintain the legal system. They purchase these resources with tax revenue generated through the revenue effect.